Jacqueline Turner McKibben passed away peacefully on July 12, 2022 at the age of 88. She leaves behind her children Mark McKibben and Beth McKibben, grandchildren Keanen, Keeley, Shannon and Cole, and great grandson Kyson.
Jacki was born in Portland Oregon on February 16, 1934, to Clephane and Harry Monroe Turner.
A few years later, the family moved to Seattle. Jacki graduated from Garfield High School in 1952. In 1956, she married Thomas McKibben. Jacki, Tom and son Mark moved to New Orleans for a short time. While Jacki enjoyed the city, she was never comfortable with the climate and after a couple years, the family returned to Seattle, moving to Bainbridge Island in 1962 where they made their home in Seabold.
When daughter Beth began school in 1970 Jacki began working for Fenwick. In the 1980s, Jacki began commuting to Seattle to work, but after a few years returned to Bainbridge Island to work for Sage Manufacturing. Jacki retired from Sage in 2004. One of Jacki’s favorite stories is how for the first few months after retiring she would set her alarm just for the joy of turning it off and going back to sleep.
Jacki and Tom divorced in 1980 but remained good friends until his death in 1996. In 1990, Jacki and her mother Clephane sold their home Seabold and moved to Winslow, where Jacki lived until she was no longer able to live independently. In 2021, Jacki and her cat Bootsie moved to an assisted living facility in Bremerton.
Jacki will be remembered for her kind heart, generous nature and love of the unconventional. She shared her home with many pets over her life, and her home was always open to friends and family. In her retirement she perfected her bread baking and spent countless hours gardening and volunteering with her church.
The family would especially like to thank the Bainbridge Ward of the Church of Latter Day Saints, the Island Volunteer Caregivers group and her Ericksen Avenue neighbors for the love and support they gave Jacki. It is because their compassion that Jacki was able stay in her home for as long as possible.
Jacki’s family will be gathering to celebrate her life on September 25, 2022 from noon to 3 PM at Fay Bainbridge State Park, Bainbridge Island, in the beach shelter. If Jacki touched your life, please come and share your memories and maybe one of Jacki’s favorite foods. In lieu of flowers or gifts, she requested donations in her memory to PAWS of Bainbridge or Kitsap Humane Society.
